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Aug 14, 2008 4:25 PM, By Mike Holt, NEC Consultant

Q. What are the GFCI protection requirements for 15A and 20A, 125V receptacles?

A. GFCI protection is required for all 15A and 20A, 125V receptacles located in:

(A) Dwelling Units [210.8]:

• Bathroom area

  GFCI protection is required for all 15A and 20A, 125V receptacles in the bathroom area of a dwelling unit.

• Garages and accessory buildings

  GFCI protection is required for all 15A and 20A, 125V receptacles in garages, and in gradelevel portions of accessory buildings used for storage or work areas of a dwelling unit.

• Outdoors

  All 15A and 20A, 125V receptacles located outdoors of dwelling units, including receptacles installed under the eaves of roofs, must be GFCI protected.

  Exception to (3): GFCI protection isn't required for a fixed electric snowmelting or deicing equipment receptacle supplied by a dedicated branch circuit, if the receptacle isn't readily accessible and the equipment or receptacle has groundfault protection of equipment (GFPE) [426.28].

• Crawl spaces

  All 15A and 20A, 125V receptacles installed in crawl spaces at or below grade of a dwelling unit must be GFCI protected.

• Unfinished basements

  GFCI protection is required for all 15A and 20A, 125V receptacles located in the unfinished portion of a basement not intended as a habitable room and limited to storage and work areas.

  Exception to (5): A receptacle supplying only a permanently installed fire alarm or burglar alarm system is not required to be GFCI protected [760.41(B) and 760.121(B)].

• Kitchen countertop surfaces

  GFCI protection is required for all 15A and 20A, 125V receptacles that serve countertop surfaces in a dwelling unit.

• Laundry, utility, and wet bar sinks

  GFCI protection is required for all 15A and 20A, 125V receptacles located within an arc measurement of 6 ft from the sink.

• Boathouses

  GFCI protection is required for all 15A and 20A, 125V receptacles located in a dwelling unit boathouse.

(B) Other than dwelling units [210.8]. GFCI protection is required for all 15A and 20A, 125V receptacles installed in the following nondwelling locations:

• Bathrooms

  All 15A and 20A, 125V receptacles installed in commercial or industrial bathrooms must be GFCI protected.

• Kitchens

  All 15A and 20A, 125V receptacles installed in an area with a sink and permanent facilities for food preparation and cooking [Art. 100], even those that don't supply the countertop surface, must be GFCI protected.

• Rooftops

  All 15A and 20A, 125V receptacles installed on rooftops must be GFCI protected.

• Outdoors

  All 15A and 20A, 125V receptacles installed outdoors must be GFCI protected.

  Exception No. 1 to (3) and (4): GFCI protection isn't required for a fixed electric snowmelting or deicing equipment receptacle supplied by a dedicated branch circuit, if the receptacle isn't readily accessible and the equipment or receptacle has groundfault protection of equipment (GFPE) [426.28].

• Sinks

  All 15A and 20A, 125V receptacles installed within 6 feet of the outside edge of a sink must be GFCI protected.

Additional GFCI protection requirements are required for:

• Receptacle replacement 406.3(D)(3)

• Luminaire replacement 410.42(B) Exception

• Vending machines 422.51

• Repair garages 511.12

• Aircraft hangers 513.12

• Carnivals, circuses, and fairs 525.23

• Agricultural building 547.5(G)

• Boatyards 555.19(B)

• Temporary wiring 590.6

• Elevators and machine rooms 620.85

• Pools, spas and hot tubs, fountains, and hydromassage bathtubs Art. 680.

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